Toronto's best kept izakaya secret. $1 oysters on Sundays, tiny yakitori skewers, and sake bombs well past midnight. Cash only, seats about 20, vibes are immaculate.
Neighbourhood: Dundas West · Address: 2 Lakeview Ave, Toronto, ON · Hours: Mon–Thu 5:00 PM – 12:00 AM | Fri–Sat 6:00 PM – 2:00 AM | Sun: Closed · Price Range: $ · Editorial status: Not yet verified
You can slam back sake bombs, munch on surprisingly creative skewers, and crush $1 oysters in a tiny, unpretentious room after midnight. It’s the spot for affordable late-night munchies and drinks away from downtown chaos.
Unlike the larger, glossier izakayas, Hanmoto is candle-lit, ramshackle, and only accepts cash. The food isn’t textbook Japanese: expect wasabi mayo, fried rice buns, and playful daily specials alongside drinks that actually hit late into the night. It feels like an afterparty disguised as a snack bar.
Hanmoto is the kind of restaurant that Torontonians tell friends about in lowered voices, with the implicit understanding that this information comes with responsibility: the place seats about 20 people, takes no reservations, and operates on a system of showing up early and hoping. It is one of the most beloved small restaurants in the city.
The concept is Japanese izakaya — small-plate drinking food, the kind of food that exists in Japan primarily to accompany beer and sake rather than to constitute a formal meal. At Hanmoto, this means yakitori skewers (grilled over charcoal, charred at the edges), takoyaki (octopus balls crispy on the outside and molten within), edamame, karaage chicken, and a short rotating selection of seasonal small plates. Nothing is complex. Everything is done with care.
The Sunday deal is what drives the cult following: $1 oysters, available all day Sunday while supplies last. The oysters are well-sourced and the deal is real — it is absolutely worth timing a visit around. Combined with $5 sake cups and the warm energy of a small room where everyone is clearly having a good time, Sunday at Hanmoto is one of the more reliably pleasant evenings available for very little money in Toronto.
Cash only. No reservations. Arrive at 6pm when they open or expect to wait outside. The wait is worth it.
No — Hanmoto does not take reservations. It operates on a walk-in only basis. The restaurant seats approximately 20 people, so arriving when it opens (6pm, Tuesday through Sunday) is the best strategy for getting a seat without waiting. Weekend evenings typically have a lineup.
Every Sunday, Hanmoto offers $1 oysters available while supplies last. This is a genuine deal — the oysters are well-sourced and the price is real. Combined with the $5 sake, Sunday is the most popular night. Arrive at or shortly after 6pm for the best selection.
Hanmoto is cash only. Come prepared — there are ATMs nearby on Dundas West. The restaurant is at 2 Lakeview Avenue, just off Ossington.
The yakitori skewers (especially the chicken thigh and the pork belly), the takoyaki (octopus balls with bonito flakes), the karaage chicken, and whatever oysters are available on Sundays. Sake is the natural pairing — the selection is well-priced and the staff will guide you.
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